The second book of the Casey Series is up. Just three more books and I'll be done. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Law and Order SVU characters, but I do own Danielle and all the other characters that I create. So,yeah. You know.

Warnings: This warning is very important because this book has more triggering material than The Locket. Of course, this book has self-harming material like the first book, but it also has a detailed suicide attempt(can't say who, or I would ruin the story for you) in Chapter 4. So if you're easily triggered, I would most likely skip the first part of that chapter. I know for a fact that it was very triggering for me as I wrote it. Also, this warning isn't as horrible, but you can never be too safe: there is mention of abuse in chapter 7. It's not as bad as the suicide attempt, but you can never be too careful.

Hope you enjoy,regardless of the warnings. :)

-blueskies723

November 20th, 2005

So things are okay back in Connecticut. Casey was able to come up for my 16th birthday party; it was the happiest day of my life. All my friends think that she's really cool and thinks that she was one of those "popular girls" back in high school. I told Casey that and she laughed. She said that she was in a large group of friends, but she wasn't the most popular girl in school.

Casey couldn't have me stay at her apartment during my Christmas Break, but she invited me for Thanksgiving. So I leave for NYC on the 22nd after school, and come back here on the 27th. If only I could stay there and never come back here to this stupid house of mine...

After Danielle threw her bags on her bed, Casey and Danielle walked down the street to a small grocery store so they can prepare for Thanksgiving the next day.

"So is it just the both of us eating turkey?" Danielle asked.

"No. I invited Olivia, Fin, and Munch" Casey said as she grabbed a carriage and entered the store.

It was busy for the small grocery store the day before Thanksgiving. Casey and Danielle rushed to get the turkey first. Danielle was surprised that Casey grabbed two turkeys and put them in their carriage.

"Whoa, why the hell do we need two turkeys?"

"Why do you think we usually have take-out when you're here?" Casey asked.

"I don't know" Danielle replied "I assumed that it's your life style."

"Believe me, that's not the only reason. You'll see why tomorrow."

They went around the store to get the rolls,potatoes,and stuffing.For dessert they grabbed a peanut butter pie with chocolate and a chocolate pie. Of course, Danielle was going to be the only one who would eat the peanut butter pie, since Casey hates peanut butter.

Casey and Danielle started walking home with their grocery bags when Casey noticed something that was different.

"You know Danielle" Casey said "It seems like you're less..."

"Depressed? Believe me, I'm still depressed. I'm just getting better at hiding it."

"I see…"

"Look, I just don't want to talk about the home situation during my stay here, okay?" Danielle said "I know you're my sister and all, but I don't like people worrying about me when they're around."

Casey didn't say anything as they both walked up the steps to the apartment complex.

November 22nd, 2005

I know my sister is being the caring person that she can be, but I can handle this. I can handle my life. I haven't hurt myself for almost a month. I'm still going strong. I just hope that I didn't hurt my sister with my words.

I better go to bed. Casey already told me that she's waking up at 8 so I can help with the dinner, since everyone else is coming at 1.I guess I can't sleep in until ten, but anything for Casey.

"Danielle, the turkey is supposed to be done by ten. Can you watch it?"

"Why?"

Danielle walked in the living room and was still in her white tank top, penguin pants, and fuzzy rainbow slippers. Casey laughed.

"You're still in your pajamas?"

"Yeah, do you have an issue?"

"No, not at all" Casey giggled "Oh, and to answer your question; you have to watch the turkey because I have to review this case. I'm prosecuting this on Monday."

"All right" Danielle said "Well, I'm going to take a shower and change into actual clothes, since you seem to have a problem with my current outfit."

Danielle knew that Casey was laughing about her slippers as she walked into the hallway and shut the bathroom door. She could still hear Casey chuckle to herself as she turned on the water.

An hour later, Danielle smelled smoke from her bedroom.

"Casey?"

Suddenly, the smoke alarm in the apartment went off. Danielle ran out of her room, screaming frantically.

"Fire!"

"Will you relax!?" Casey yelled over the alarm "Give me the fire extinguisher!"

"How the hell should I know where that is!?"

Casey started swearing as she ran to the closet next to the kitchen. The smoke grew and a fire was actually starting in the oven. Danielle ran into the kitchen and opened the oven: big mistake. The fire spread into the kitchen when Casey arrived with the extinguisher.

"What the hell did you do!?"

Casey was able to put the fire out with the extinguisher seconds after yelling at Danielle. The smoke alarm stopped beeping and Casey looked at her sister.

"First of all, I thought I told you to watch the turkey" Casey snapped "And second, why the hell did you open the oven!?"

"I wasn't thinking?"

"Damn right you weren't thinking!" Casey said angrily as she threw the fire extinguisher back in the closet "You would have burned the whole apartment complex down! Geez Danielle, why are you so stupid?"

Danielle only looked down at the kitchen floor with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry" she said quietly.

The only thing Danielle could do was run out of the kitchen, shut the door to the bedroom, and cry.